"Fire News in the NW and Beyond"

Recycling

Fire conditions are much better when black billowing smoke could be seen. | Credit: WSDOT

Firefighters are working to suppress and contain a very large fire that broke out at the Schnitzer Steel recycling plant located in the 23700 block of 63rd Ave SE in Woodinville. It is located off of SR 522 and near SR 9.

The WSDOT sent out a broadcast over social media almost two hours ago, warning drivers to be careful due to smoke blowing over the highway. There was unknown details if they were shutting down the highway for safety reasons at the time of this post.

They are said to be one of the nation’s largest scrap metal recyclers and purchase from the Western US, Canada, Hawaii, Alaska, the New England states, the Southeast and Puerto Rico. The Company states the metals are from old machinery and equipment such as automobiles, RR cars and tracks, home appliances and metal from demolition structures and other obsolete buildings.

Their recycled metal is sorted, shredding and bailed to be used in new steel products sold to domestic and foreign customers being shipped in bulk on cargo ships, barges, RR cars and trucks.

Fire History

June 26, 2019 – Woodinville, Washington

See above incident summary.

June 2, 2018 – Oakland, California

Credit: Oakland Firefighters Local 55

A scrap yard bursts into flamer in Oakland, California, so Alameda Fire 689 and Alameda FD along with San Francisco Fire Department bring in their fire boats as Oakland FD did not have one. Mutual aid was requested and Oakland received additional personnel and equipment: Water tenders from Alameda County Fire and, Moraga-Orinda Fire Department.

Credit: Oakland Firefighters Local 55

The Recycling company had another fire break out at a metal recycling center but this time in the Port of Oakland, sending the same black smoke into the air and several drivers taking notice. This plant was located in the 1100 block of Embarcadero West near Jack London Square.

It was reported around 1600 hours. Fire investigators found a large pile of recycled material burning in the yard and port and due to it being so close to flammable gases that it was escalated to numerous fire alarms. One interesting fire tactic was pumping water directly out of the Willamette River because the fire demanded so much water. The media source states that the fire started as employees were processing metal. (Source: news media)

August 6, 2017 – Portland, Oregon

Black smoke was seen going straight up in the sky in North Portland (OR) that was reportedly started at 5:30 p.m. at the center located at 12005 N Burgard Road, about three miles northwest of St. Johns Bridge.

It would take firefighters about 12-hours to bring the fire under control (at 2000 hours) but would remain on-scene until 0415 hours into the next morning to fully put out the fire. (Source: news media)

April 8, 2009 – Oakland, California

Black smoke, a theme of sorts was shooting up into Oakland’s skies was said to be burning on Embarcadero West which was fairly close to the West Oakland BART station. Even though the fire would eventually be put out, those stated could smell the remnants of the fire as away to the Bay Bridge toll plaza. No cause was known. No injuries were reported. (Source: news media)